Exploratorium
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About This Vendor
About This Vendor
Celebrate in Exciting Exhibits with Stunning Views
Located in San Francisco, California, Exploratorium is a museum venue with ample potential as a wedding destination. Situated in the center of history-laden Embarcadero, this unique setting has gorgeous sights inside and out. The city skyline graces the horizon and the bay melds with the sky, both visible through the numerous windowed walls. Throughout the interior, artistic and scientific discoveries await curious guests in the halls, bringing them on a journey of wonder. Exploratorium is home to numerous galleries, any of which may be rented out individually or combined. Depending on the setup, the capacity of an event can range from 50 guests to 350 people. Both ceremonies and receptions are welcome to take place on the property, as are other exciting occasions. Couples may find themselves drawn to the Fisher Bay Observatory & Terrace, a glass-lined room with space for 200 standing guests. Its transparent walls face the San Francisco Bay, offering a backdrop that is naturally elegant. Adjoining the observatory is the terrace, an area that adds an extra capacity of 125 people. Also overlooking the bay is the East Gallery, a contemporary space that can hold a capacity of 450 standing guests. Its open and lofty layout is ideal for expansive events as well as live musical performances. Whichever room is chosen, couples can feel assured that their background will be inspiring. Selecting a wedding package at Exploratorium involves the provision of a one-year membership, ideal for the newly married couple. The betrothed will also be able to utilize the museum for a one-hour photography session and turn a classroom space into a get-ready suite. Exploratorium has a list of preferred vendors, including caterers and bartenders. Event staff, such as a coordinator, operations technician, and explainers are all available through the venue’s in-house team. To learn more, couples are invited to reach out to the events team at this educational and architecturally stunning venue.
Amenities & Details
Ceremony Area, Dressing Room, Handicap Accessible, Indoor Event Space, Outdoor Event Space, Reception Area, Wireless Internet
Guest Capacity300+
Ceremony Types Venue Service OfferingsBar & Drinks, Food & Catering, Rentals & Equipment
SettingsBeach, Waterfront, Historic Venue, Industrial & Warehouse, Museum, Rooftop
Business AttributesPricing for Exploratorium
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| Starting Cost | Luxury |
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Browse Exploratorium pricing PDF below for sample services and estimates.
View PricesExploratorium Reviews
The Fisher Bay Observatory & Terrace at the Exploratorium was the perfect venue for our September wedding. It was perfect for our outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour overlooking the bay during golden hour, followed by our indoor ceremony in a modern space with floor to ceiling glass windows showing the Bay Bridge lit up at night. We were looking for some place unique and fell in love when we saw the kids playing at the exhibits during our first walk through. Our guests had free admission to the Exploratorium prior to the wedding, and we had a fun time taking newlywed photos wherever we wanted after the museum closed. Most importantly, Katie, Billy, and Lauren had such close communication with us, our wedding coordinator, and all the vendors throughout the entire process, everything went so smoothly.
Reviewed on 16-10-2023
The Event Manager and Event Team were so easy to work with throughout the planning process. They responded so quickly and accommodated endless requests. As a planner, I have worked at many venues before, and I've never had a team assist with unloading and loading my car like them. They never complained and were always willing to help. Everything ran so smoothly and was executed so effortless throughout the wedding. It is an amazing option as a venue, and you will not be disappointed with the quality of service provided.
Reviewed on 14-10-2023
The Exploratorium team is so fabulous and friendly, and they do everything they can to be helpful and accommodating. The venue itself is unique, memorable, and requires minimal decor/activations because it is, in itself, a fun and beautiful activation! Plus the views are exquisite. Highly recommend to couples looking for something different and interesting!
Reviewed on 13-07-2023
We held our 40th wedding anniversary celebration in the Fisher Bay Observatory on June 9. it was a sit down dinner for 130 people with a cocktail reception and then dancing on the terrace. The setting was SPECTACULAR!! So many of our guests commented on how beautiful the view was. The staff at the Exploratorium was so helpful and easy to work with. We've hosted a lot of parties over the years, and honestly, this was the best experience we have ever had with a venue. We will for sure have our next anniversary celebration there--the whole evening was beyond amazing!!
Reviewed on 13-07-2023
Wedding Date 30-09-2018
I had my wedding at the Exploratorium in September of 2018. The night could not have been a more magical evening. The staff were so accommodating, professional, and literally were one step ahead of every process. I did not have to worry about a SINGLE thing. The ability of their team to work together, and execute such a big gathering (with many moving parts, such as: tech, different set-ups for different areas, food, bar, ect) was exceptional. We had some family pieces we wanted to integrate such as wine collection being served. Each table had a selection which was a hit! They even saved some of the bottles for us to use as keepsakes. They also customized special drinks that we wanted and made a cute menu at the bar!The tech ability was amazing- we had a powerpoint going the whole time of me and my husband, we had wonderful lighting for each \"vibe\" of the event (i.e dinner, dancing, cocktail hour), and not to mention an amazing sounds system!The view is one of a kind. It was a full glass box looking out to the Bay bridge and Bay- it was sparkly and to this day my guests still talk about how spectacular it was. It was my dream wedding, and I couldn't of done it without the amazing staff and event team at the EXPLO. 10/10 HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!
Reviewed on 07-12-2022
I'm an Event Planner in the Bay Area and I've had to honor of planning events at the Exploratorium and it is hands down one of my favorite venues to curate experiences in! The event's team is touch notch and they refer some of the Bay Area's best vendors who all work together to ensure the clients' needs are exceeded and the memories created are endless! This venue is unique on it's own but has the ability to transform or intertwine into any vision!
Reviewed on 07-09-2022
Wedding Date 09-04-2016
The Fisher Observatory Terrace and Gallery at the Exploratorium was our most perfect venue choice for our wedding. The events team did an outstanding job of guiding us through the venue rental process. Couldnt have been happier :)
Reviewed on 16-10-2020
Wedding Date 08-08-2015
I have had the pleasure of producing two weddings at the Exploratorium. It is a unique and beautiful backdrop for a wedding with its sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay and interactive exhibits. Our clients and their guests truly enjoyed their time at the Exploratorium.As a wedding producer, I appreciate the support from the Exploratorium venue department. They are professional and easy to work with. If you're looking for a one-of-a-kind venue for your wedding, the Exploratorium is it!
Reviewed on 08-10-2020
Wedding Date 09-04-2016
The Observatory Gallery was such a special setting and the venue rentals team was fantastic to work with. They made it so easy to put together a spectacular reception.
Reviewed on 07-10-2020
Wedding Date 25-08-2019
Looking for a wedding venue? Explor(atorium) no further!Our wedding at the Exploratorium was absolutely perfect! We knew we were looking for a unique wedding venue that let our personalities shine through and we found just that in the Exploratorium’s quirky vibe and spectacular views. After our initial tour, Katie and the rest of the staff really went above and beyond to make sure our event was everything we hoped it would be and more. Everyone on staff was incredibly responsive and communicative throughout our planning process. Katie recommended excellent catering and planning professionals that worked flawlessly with the venue and staff. As our date approached, we were able to tour our rental space with our planning crew multiple times so we knew everything would run smoothly. To top it off, Katie arranged for some of our favorite exhibits from around the Exploratorium to be brought into our reception space. The exhibits were a hit with the guests and got people talking who would otherwise never have struck up a conversation. We have heard from several guests that our wedding is now the gold standard and that’s because the entire Exploratorium crew worked tirelessly to make our night magical. Thank you so much for an unforgettable wedding!
Reviewed on 22-09-2020
Wedding Date 15-02-2019
My husband and I have had the pleasure of being a part of several events at The Exploratorium. The absolute care and attention to detail is second-to-none. We are actually wedding photographers in real-life, and are fortunate to be a part of some very special gatherings around the Bay Area. The Exploratorium and its staff are something special. Not only is the location unique and one-of-a-kind, it is also located in one of the most convenient parts of San Francisco. The ability to have your guests arrive by Ferry, train, car, bus, or maybe even a rickshaw? It's one of those things that some couples overlook when they decide on a venue. On the Embarcadero you have all of these options at your disposal.Another incredible plus is the preferred vendors they have access to. During every event we have attended, the catering has been superb, the decor trendy, yet classic, the florals stunning, and the entertainment top flight. We encourage every couple considering a one-of-a-kind wedding to really explore everything these folks have to offer.
Reviewed on 29-05-2020
Wedding Date 15-06-2019
We loved having our wedding ceremony and reception at the Exploratorium!- Space: The museum galleries were large spacious rooms that didn't feel too open where your guests would get lost because we could control the flow of our guests from one room to another so that they could experience all of the exhibits while staying close to the party. - Exhibits: Fun and available throughout the night! Great reception venue if your guests have kids - we got a lot of positive feedback from our guests with young children who loved that their kids were entertained the whole night- Ambiance: Along with our other vendors (i.e. florist, caterer, etc), the reception area was created to have a contemporary, upscale, warm feeling- Service: Katie (the museum service/events coordinator) was fantastic to work with! Very accommodating (esp. when our family/bridal party needed extra space/rooms) and worked very collaboratively with our other vendors- Views of the Bay and SF: Couldn't ask for a better location if you want beautiful views of the bay, the Bay Bridge, and the SF city skyline. Especially since we booked the Fisher Bay and Observatory Gallery which overlooks the water. - Uniqueness: 10/10! My husband and I are both engineers who went to elementary school together and used to visit the Exploratorium (in it's old location) for field trips as kids. Getting married around the same hands-on science exhibits was perfect and unlike any other wedding we've been to!- Location: Very close (walking distance) to hotels, the Ferry Building, other SF tourist landmarks which was great for our guestsThe only negatives for us:- Timing! Because the museum is open to the public in the day, there is very limited/strict time for vendors to enter and exit to set up and break down. This means our vendors had to add extra resources to set up fast enough. Also, our wedding start time had to wait until after the museum closed which meant a late dinner (compared to other weddings if this is something you care about or if it's a problem for some guests). Lastly, we (and our guests) felt like the night flew by and we wish we had more time to enjoy the exhibits and everything the museum had to offer. Definitely recommend not having too many planned \"wedding activities\" (i.e. we didn't do a cake cutting and had a very short ceremony) so that you and your guests have time to enjoy the space. All things considered, we were willing to accept these limitations for all the great positives above!
Reviewed on 15-05-2020
Contact Info for Exploratorium
| Contact | Value |
|---|---|
| https://www.facebook.com/exploratorium | |
| X (Twitter) | exploratorium |
| exploratorium | |
| exploratorium | |
| Website | www.exploratorium.edu |
| Phone | (415) 528-4500 |
| Address | Pier 15, San Francisco, CA, 94111 |
| events@exploratorium.edu |
Exploratorium on the map
Meet the Exploratorium Team
Katie Brauer (Coordinator) I am the Event Sales Supervisor in the Museum Rental Department at the Exploratorium. I started at the Exploratorium in 2017 and had been working in Lake Tahoe for five years exclusively in weddings. I absolutely love weddings and plan for friends and family whenever I can. The Exploratorium is such a hidden gem for weddings in San Francisco and definitely a unique venue that your guests won't forget! I look forward to working with you to create a special day celebrating your love and allowing your friends and family to relax, enjoy and experience the historic Pier 15.
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